Halloween 2025

 This year for Halloween we were famous country singers. We decided on this theme last minute when Caitie wanted to be Taylor Swift. Since Halloween was on a Friday this year, the older two had plans and dressed up with their friends. The little two wanted to dress up with us, so we pulled it together in a couple days! We were so last minute that we had to wait on Amazon boxes to arrive before we could go trick-or-treating. However they got here and we made it!

Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks

Peyton was a basketball player with his friends.

We went trick-or-treating in Vatican Valley again this year. 

The World Series game was on and it ran really late!

Patrick went to a freshman party and was a giraffe with some friends. 

The next morning Patrick had a soccer game and Conor had a birthday party. 

Then the boys made a last minute decision to go to Knoxville that night for the Vols Game. It was a busy weekend!

Marley's baptism and Piper's birthday

Marley was baptized this past weekend. Michael and Patrick had to go to a game in Bristol. I had originally planned to drive, but Patrick ended up being pretty sick and had to travel late at night so Michael agreed to take. We would have had him skip it, but if he didn't show his team had to forfeit. He was such a trooper for going with the stomach bug!

Such a sweet baptism

The next day we had Piper's birthday party! 

Can't believe this guy was able to compete with the stomach bug!

Fall Break 2025- Utah Road Trip (Part 6)

The next morning we packed up to check out of Capital Reef Resort. We had a long drive ahead of us, so we planned a fun morning adventure with pies and a hike. 

Our first stop was the Gifford Homestead. We tried to get pies the day before but they were sold out of pies. We arrived a few minutes after opening. We waited in line for about 20 minutes before getting our pies. We chose apple, mixed berry, strawberry and a huge cinnamon roll. It was delicious!

Next up was a hike to Hickman Bridge, which is a natural arch in the park. It's a 2 mile hike with about 420 feet of elevation gain. 

Can you see them underneath the bridge? They look so tiny!

After the hike we set off to drive to Colorado. It was a really long drive and we gave the kids a choice between driving halfway and stopping in Glenwood Springs or driving all the way to Denver. The kids all decided to drive the 6 hours to Denver and swim at the Colorado Rockies Gaylord Hotel. We stopped for lunch at the Glenwood Brewpub Canyon. 

We arrived in Denver at 8pm and had an hour in the pool before it closed. We spent the next day under a cabana, watching football before our flight departed that night. 

So thankful to be able to take our family on this trip. I hope it is one they will remember for a long time!

Fall Break 2025- Utah Road Trip (Part 5)

We woke up early the next morning for our llama adventure. It was really cold outside, in the low thirties but felt like upper twenties with all of the wind. 

We met our llamas and started our two mile hike with them. We were supposed to help train them and teach them how to hike. 

Caitie's llama was Jimmy. He was 10 years old and was the oldest of the group. He was sweet with people, but was a little grumpy with the rest of the llamas. He spit on one of the llamas when he got upset with him. Caitie was standing in the way and thought it was really funny. 

Patrick's llama was three years old and named Cruz. He was a really sweet llama and listened well. 

This was my llama, Alan. He was also three years old and was one of the sweet ones. He listened well and was easy to guide. 

Michael's llama was named Buenos and he was definitely the most difficult of the group. He did not like people. Any time we would try and take a picture he would turn his head and refuse to be in the picture. He also was very confident. He did not want to be lead and wanted to lead Michael on the hike instead.

Peyton's llama was named Grizz and he loved to eat and mess with the other llamas. He was tough to control, but a really funny llama. 

This was Conor's llama and he was named Swagger. Conor's llama would not go one step without eating. He would hold up the whole line because he wanted to eat the whole time. It was really funny. 

Notice how Michael's llama refuses to be pictured and is apart from the group. He kept us laughing. 

Michael's llama...haha

We were able to feed the llamas after the hike and they really loved their food. 

All of the llamas loved Caitie so we thought she could try with Michael's llama, but he was not having it. He refused to let her get near him. 

We warmed up with coffee's and hot chocolates and then set off to explore Capitol Reef. 

It's a really pretty park with so many gorgeous rock formations.

Can you spot them down there? The rock walls were so big!

After a fun afternoon exploring, we decided to go back to the resort and relax in the hot tub. The pool was open, but it was really cold outside, so the kids would jump in and then jump in the hot tub.

After a rest at the hotel, we went out for sunset. It was such a pretty sunset. I really loved how the rocks lit up in the background. 

It doesn't even look real. So amazing!

We had the best day exploring this fun park!